Device for Transporting Skiing Equipment

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for transporting skiing equipment, mainly snowboards or skis, consisting essentially of a tie made of a strong material, which forms the central structure to which are attached, preferably sewn, three ties that are perpendicular to the central structure, one of the ends of the upper and lower ties being provided with an additional sub-tie, forming a flexible and folded assembly.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein relates to a device for transporting ski equipment,primarily skis and poles for skiing (Alpine, Nordic and cross-country)or boards for snowboarding.

The device of the invention is flexible, making it easy to transport theequipment, as well as making it possible to transport additionalaccessories (gloves, helmet, protectors, etc.), balance the weight ofthe equipment symmetrically on the body, avoiding aches, pains orinjury, thereby improving personal safety and the safety of others, asall material is secured and visible.

The main object of the invention is to transport ski equipment byloading it on one's back, as close as possible to the body for completesymmetrical balance on a vertical longitudinal axis, while allowing thehands to be free, carrying the weight with less effort and avoidinginjuries, fatigue and accidents in respect of the user, third parties orthe surroundings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The most common form of transporting equipment when skiing is to carryit by hand. This is usually done at the beginning of the day, carryingit from the property or from where the car is parked, until reaching theski lift. Similarly, at the end of the day, it is common practice tobring the skis from the slope or from the ski lift back to one'saccommodation or the car park.

Furthermore, it must be borne in mind that often before or after skiing,other activities, such as buying ski passes, requesting information atthe resort, dropping off the children to a crèche or picking them up,doing some shopping, eating or drinking a refreshment, etc. require theuser to transport the skis in their hands. All these activities, whenthe user is required to transport the equipment, are an inconvenienceand pose a significant risk to one's health, to third parties and to thesurroundings in respect of becoming fatigued or getting injuries, cuts,bruises, etc.

To reduce the discomfort and the effort required to transport this skiequipment, some users join the skis by facing the bases together, hookthe poles on by inserting the tips of the skis through the hand strapsand load them onto one's shoulder, holding them with one hand. Thisleaves the other hand free, but the user is required to carry all theweight on one shoulder and this could lead to possible injury.

Another method of transport that is used on occasion consists on placingthe skis facing their bases together and placing the poles in parallel,with a handle on each side (one directed toward the tip of the skis andthe other towards the tails) and by placing each hand strap around theircorresponding part of the ski (tip or tail). In this way, the poles canbe used as an improvised handle, making it easier to transport the skis.

Recently a new device commercially known as Transki has been marketed,which consists of a rigid handle with straps that surround the skis andpoles and make it possible to transport the skis and poles using onlyone hand.

Having the weight of the equipment balanced on the body is not achievedin any of the above cases.

In the current state of the art, a carrier system for transporting skison one's back by using a system of bands that form a bag for the base ofthe skis and hold them at different points is known under patentUS2007/0051761.

Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,732 describes a system that enablesskis to be secured and carried on one's back, yet it does not provide abalance on the vertical axis and on the back because the skis are heldat an angle on said axis. On the other hand, U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,155 andUS2009/0206118 make it possible for skis to be transported evenly on thevertical axis. Similar solutions are further provided in patents US2005/0067450 and DE 10360357.

However, none of the above documents refers to transporting snowboards.Furthermore, the aforementioned inventions cannot be folded up and keptin a pocket when it is not necessary to transport the skis.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device for transporting ski equipment object of the presentregistration solves the abovementioned disadvantages, further providingother additional advantages that will become apparent from thedescription detailed hereinafter.

The device is a flexible model and consists of a number of straps madefrom a durable material such as very flexible nylon such that it can befolded, having portions of Velcro® at its ends, preferably sewn orglued.

Specifically, the device comprises a central strap that serves as thestructure on which an additional three straps are sewn, transversely andperpendicular to the first, which would secure the skis, the upper andlower straps both having strips at each of their ends for securing thepoles. Finally, two other straps join the upper and lower cross-strapsin parallel and the central strap, the two straps being longer than thelatter strap and serving as handles.

This same design can be used to transport snowboards or any other typeof board (including surf boards) by adapting the measurements slightly.

The invention described in a basic manner in the preceding paragraphsfor transporting skis/boards of any type, may be complemented to addvarious materials. Therefore, in the model for skis, two additionalstraps that are used to place and secure the poles can be added on theupper and lower cross-straps.

Similarly, more straps can be added on the handles for holding andsecuring other ski accessories, such as gloves, goggles or a helmet,such that they are located at the height of the chest once the device isplaced on the user's back, with the handles passing over the shoulders.

All cross-straps have a Velcro® strip on the ends, such that they can beclosed around the material to be transported, adapting to the dimensionsthereof.

To use the invention with skis, the central strap is placed parallel tothe skis, these being joined by their bases and facing each other. Then,they are surrounded with the three cross-straps, the lower strap beingbelow the ski fastenings such that they are secured, the centralcross-strap being below the upper protrusion of the fastenings and theupper strap being above the fastenings on the part corresponding to thefront side of the ski beneath the tip.

Similarly, the central strap is placed along the base of the board in alongitudinal direction in order to transport a snowboard. Then, thethree cross-straps surrounding the board are closed, leaving the lowerstrap under the lower fastening of the board, the central cross-strapunder the upper fastening and the upper strap above the upper fastening.

A particular feature of the device formed in this manner is that it canbe folded up small, and can be stored in any pocket when skiing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As a complement of the description being made hereinbelow and for abetter understanding of the characteristics of the invention, accordingto an example of a practical preferred embodiment thereof, attached asan integral part of the aforementioned description is a set of drawingswhere, for purposes of illustration and in a non-limiting manner, thefollowing is shown:

FIG. 1.—Shows a perspective view of the device for transporting skiequipment, which is the object of the invention.

FIG. 2.—Shows how to secure skis and ski poles with the device.

FIG. 3.—Shows a detailed view of the straps for securing the skis andpoles of the device.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Considering the mentioned figures and in accordance with the numberingadopted, a preferred although non-limiting embodiment of the inventioncan be seen therein.

In FIG. 1, the flexible device shown is comprised of a number of durablestraps sewn together. One of the straps forms the central structure (1)on which another three straps (2), preferably sewn, are attachedperpendicularly to the central structure for securing the skis, one ofthe ends of the upper and lower straps being provided with an additionalsub-strap (5) for securing poles, the straps and sub-straps beingequipped with Velcro® on the ends (3), making it possible to carry alltypes of skis/boards. Two additional straps (4), parallel to the centralstructure, serve as handles to be strapped over each shoulder, therebyloading the skis/snowboard on the individual's back.

FIG. 2 shows the device in use, securing the skis by means of threestraps (2) that surround them and are adjusted by means of Velcro®.These straps are joined by the central structure (1) that rests on thevertebral column when bearing weight. The equipment can be loaded onone's back using the straps that act as handles (4).

FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the straps for securing the skis/boards(2) in open and closed positions, on which sub-straps (5) with Velcro®are arranged to hold the poles parallel to the skis/boards. Similarly,more straps fitted with Velcro® can be added, for example on the handles(4) to hold or hang other accessories such as gloves or a helmet.

The details, shapes and dimensions and other accessory elements as wellas the materials used in the manufacture of the improved system fortransporting the ski equipment of the invention may be convenientlyreplaced by others which are technically equivalent and do not departfrom the essential nature of the invention or from the scope defined bythe claims provided hereinafter.

1. Device for transporting ski equipment, primarily snowboards or skis,comprising a strap forming a central structure, on which three strapsare attached perpendicularly thereto, one of the ends of the upper andlower straps being provided with an additional sub-strap, delivering aflexible, folding ensemble.
 2. Device for transporting ski equipmentaccording to claim 1, wherein it has two handles made from two straps,parallel to the strap that forms the central structure, being longerthan the latter strap.
 3. Device for transporting ski equipmentaccording to claim 1, wherein the straps perpendicular to the centralstructure formed by the strap are adjustable by means of Velcro® stripsarranged at the ends.
 4. Device for transporting ski equipment accordingto claim 1 wherein the three straps are attached by sewing.